Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Professing themselves to be wise (faskontev einai sofoi). Sofoi is predicate nominative with einai in indirect discourse agreeing with faskontev (old verb, from fhmi, to say, rare in N.T.) in case and number according to regular Greek idiom (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1038).
Became vain (emataiwqhsan). Ingressive first aorist passive indicative of mataiow from mataiov (empty). Empty reasonings as often today.
Became fools (emwranqhsan). Ingressive first aorist passive of mwrainw, to be a fool, old word from mwrov, a fool. An oxymoron or sharp saying, true and one that cuts to the bone.
For the likeness of an image (en omoiwmati eikonov). Both words, "a likeness which consists in an image or copy" (Lightfoot). See Philippians 2:7 for "likeness of men" and Colossians 1:15 for "image of God." Paul shows indignant contempt for these grotesque efforts to present pictures of a deity that had been lost (Denney). Why is it that heathen images of gods in the form of men and beasts are so horrible to look upon?
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Acts 12:9
Acts 14:15
Acts 17:16
Acts 17:27
Acts 24:9
Acts 25:19
Romans 1:18
Romans 3:9
Romans 3:19
Romans 11:30
Romans 11:32
Romans 16:21
1 Corinthians 1:20
1 Corinthians 10:20
Ephesians 2:12
Colossians 1:21
Hebrews 10:34
Hebrews 11:4
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
E-mail this page
